-In Sinoe County
By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Tartweh, Sinoe County – A major infrastructure failure in District #1, Sinoe County has sparked public outcry as residents of Tartweh find themselves cut off from vital services following the closure of the Plasion Tartweh Bridge.
The collapse of the bridge, which once served as a lifeline for farmers, traders, schoolchildren, and the general population, has now forced community members to rely on unsafe and expensive alternative crossings. Residents say the situation has reached a breaking point, prompting calls for immediate action from their district lawmaker, Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh.
According to community member Alphonso Wesseh, crossing the damaged area now comes at a high cost. “To get a motorbike across, you pay 1,500 LD. If you’re on foot, it’s 500 LD. And even then, it’s dangerous. We’re risking our lives every day,” he said.
Locals report that the lack of safe access has severely disrupted trade, education, healthcare, and food supply in the area. Farmers are unable to bring their goods to market, while families struggle to reach clinics or send children to school. The economic and social toll is mounting by the day.
“We feel abandoned. The bridge didn’t just disappear overnight—there should have been a plan, some form of oversight,” Wesseh added.
Residents are urging Representative Quioh and relevant authorities to take swift measures to address the crisis. They stress that leadership is not only about passing laws in Monrovia but also about protecting constituents and ensuring basic infrastructure is maintained.
The situation in Tartweh serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of rural infrastructure across Liberia, and the consequences of delayed responses to community needs. The residents vow to keep raising their voices until decisive action is taken.
However, The Tartweh Bridge, a vital transportation link in District #1, Sinoe County, has a long and troubled history that has significantly affected the livelihoods, safety, and development prospects of the residents of Tartweh and surrounding communities. This bridge, which connects remote rural areas to key trading points and administrative centers like Greenville, has suffered from years of neglect, poor infrastructure planning, and delayed government intervention.
Meanwhile, the Tartweh Bridge was initially constructed to span the Plaszon River, linking several communities in the Tartweh-Drapoh Statutory District. For decades, it has served as the only dependable route for villagers transporting agricultural produce, schoolchildren commuting to schools, patients accessing healthcare facilities, and general movement of people and goods. Its strategic significance made it the lifeline of the district.
In addition, the problems began surfacing in the early 2000s when heavy rainfall and seasonal flooding started weakening the bridge’s structure. Lack of proper drainage and regular maintenance accelerated its deterioration. By the 2010s, residents and local leaders had begun issuing repeated calls for rehabilitation, but their pleas were largely unaddressed.
Throughout successive political administrations, several lawmakers and county officials pledged to rehabilitate or reconstruct the bridge. During electoral seasons, the bridge would often be used as a campaign promise, but actual work on the ground remained minimal. Occasional patchwork or temporary wooden planks were used to keep the bridge passable, though dangerously so.
In 2023, after years of progressive weakening, the bridge finally became impassable due to a partial collapse. This effectively cut off several towns and villages from the rest of the county. Farmers could no longer reach markets, children dropped out of school due to distance and danger, and pregnant women and the sick faced life-threatening delays in accessing health services.
Accordingly in 2024 and again in 2025, frustrated residents began organizing protests and issuing public statements demanding urgent government intervention. They accused their elected representative, Hon. Thomas Romeo Quioh, of neglecting his duties of representation and oversight. Chiefs, youth groups, and women’s organizations jointly submitted petitions to the county administration and the national legislature.
The crisis raised questions about legislative oversight and budgetary prioritization in the national government. Community leaders pointed out that while infrastructure projects were being funded in other counties, District #1 in Sinoe was being left behind. Several civil society organizations joined the advocacy for urgent reconstruction.
As of June 2025, the Tartweh Bridge remains closed, with no concrete reconstruction project underway. Makeshift solutions like canoes or risky detours through the forest are being used. Community members continue to demand that Representative Quioh and the Ministry of Public Works immediately act to restore access. The situation remains a humanitarian concern and a governance challenge.
The history of the Tartweh Bridge crisis is not just about a broken structure — it is a symbol of chronic neglect, poor governance, and the vulnerability of rural communities in Liberia. Without immediate and sustained government intervention, the crisis risks deepening the economic and social marginalization of thousands of citizens in Sinoe’s District #1.
